3 orangutans released into the wild in East Kutai protected forest

..orangutan rehabilitation is a lengthy process, typically lasting between two and six years.

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Forestry Ministry released three Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) back into their natural habitat in the Gunung Batu Mesangat Protected Forest, East Kutai District, East Kalimantan.

According to a statement in Jakarta on Thursday, the East Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), the Kelinjau Production Forest Management Unit (KPHP), and the Center for Orangutan Protection (COP) released three orangutans: Bagus, Eboni, and Ruby on June 23.

According to East Kalimantan BKSDA Head M. Ari Wibawanto, orangutan rehabilitation is a lengthy process, typically lasting between two and six years.

“All three have been observed to be able to adapt and live independently on the pre-release island, so they have been declared fit to return to the forest,” he said.

He explained that all three orangutans share a similar history, having been kept as pets by local residents before being rescued. Bagus was rescued by the East Kalimantan BKSDA in early September 2020 in Merabu Village, Berau; Eboni was evacuated in late April 2022 in Long Beliu Village, Berau; and Ruby was evacuated in early April 2024 in Persiapan Sekurau Atas Village, East Kutai.

Before returning to the wild, the three orangutans underwent rehabilitation at the Borneo Orangutan Rescue Alliance (BORA).

Orangutans kept in captivity for extended periods often lose essential survival skills, including climbing, foraging, and nest building.

At the rehabilitation center, they underwent a series of rehabilitation stages, including health assessments, forest school training to relearn survival skills, and a four-month adaptation period on a pre-release island.

A total of 18 orangutans rehabilitated at BORA have been released into the Gunung Batu Mesangat Protected Forest over the past four years.

The COP monitoring team will monitor Bagus, Eboni, and Ruby's movements for the next three months to ensure they are safe and adapting well to their forest habitat.

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Translator: Prisca Triferna Violleta, Cindy Frishanti Octavia

Editor: M Razi Rahman

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